Protest stories continue to percolate
TVA says that the Black Bloc has claimed responsibility for the excesses at the anti‑NATO protest on Friday.
Isabelle Hachey has a quiet chuckle at the wording being used by reactive politicians about the protests, but also brings some sanity to the discourse.
MarcG 14:49 on 2024-11-28 Permalink
The statement signed, presumably in jest, “The Black Bloc”, can be read here.
Hachey’s suggestion that it be made illegal to wear a mask at protests means that it will be against the law for anyone who doesn’t wish to contract an airborne virus or have their identity known to participate.
Kate 15:23 on 2024-11-28 Permalink
I think that’s satire, which is why she follows it with “Sur ce, vous m’excuserez, mais je dois risquer ma vie pour aller prendre le métro.”
MarcG 16:52 on 2024-11-28 Permalink
The general gist of the article was that media and politicians are exaggerating, but I got the impression that she was being sincere in her “if you really want to help the police…” suggestions.
Ramsay 18:57 on 2024-11-28 Permalink
I agree with MarcG, here closing comment was about the current state of “insecurity” in Montréal. Nothing airborne in enclosed spaces.
Kate 20:05 on 2024-11-28 Permalink
Police brotherhood president Yves Francœur also says it “isn’t normal” to allow people to demonstrate masked.
CBC radio reminded me Friday morning that a law forbidding masked protest had been passed during the student unrest in 2012, then struck down later. Francœur wants it back.
PatrickC 13:39 on 2024-11-29 Permalink
There can be reasons for wearing a mask that have nothing to do with violence. I can imagine many dissidents protesting oppression in their home countries who don’t want to be identified by the government back home using facial recognition software, etc. Who sorts out the “good” maskers from the “bad” ones? Behavior seems to me to be the only legitimate criterion for regulation.